Chapter 379 A Colorful Battle Preparation
Title: A Colorful Battle Preparation
On the day of the jasmine dress tea party, Sara was woken up by Maria before dawn.
"Milady Sara, please wake up. It's almost time to switch with Lady Sophia, or the other maids will arrive."
"Oh, right. I need to hurry."
Sara jumped out of bed in a rush, quickly finished the breakfast that Maria had prepared, and created a magic passage to Sophia's room in the annex. In the bed prepared for Sophia, the golem version of Sophia was lying down, but she wasn't sleeping.
"Sophia, it's almost time to transform into Sara."
"Understood."
Sara waved her hand at the golem, and with a complex magic, she changed the golem into her exact likeness, then transformed her own appearance into Sophia's. Thanks to the cheat Marcato had given her the other day, it was honestly convenient to be able to transform without calling Mike.
When she told Mike about this, they were upset, saying, "Does that mean I won't have any scenes to shine in?" But when she replied, "Even if you don't do anything, Mike is still an important friend," they quickly cheered up. Of course, knowing that wine-loving fairy, they would probably continue to enjoy aging wine casually. They might even make some nice snacks like cheese to go with it.
"By the way, is the communication with Magi good?"
"No problems."
"It seems rhe relay devices I placed along the route are working well. It should be snowy in the Grandchester area now. Is there any delay in communication?"
"Not at a level that's concerning."
"Was there any problem in the Grandchester territory?"
"Nothing in particular. Ah, it seems the troublemakers who attacked Scott and the real Sara on festival day have been punished and are now doing hard labor for a year."
"Hard labor?"
"Digging and carrying peat. It's simple work, but it's tough for humans. Plus, it's winter now, so it must be even harder. For golems, though, it would be an easy job."
"That's true, it wouldn't be hard for golems. But I don't plan to make them do it."
'Still, I didn't know peat could be found in the Grandchester territory... Hmm. This is definitely something I should ask Mike for help with.'
Sophia's mind was already filled with the pleasant, smoky scent of alcohol. Plus, she had just learned that the neighboring territory was growing barley.
The Amesbury Marquis himself did not attend the Grandchester hunting competition. His eldest son, the Young Marquis Amesbury Gilbert, was there, but Sara only exchanged greetings as a relative. It seemed Gilbert wasn't very interested in the Sophia Merchant Guild, so they didn't get to have a conversation.
'Since it's my grandmother's family home, I should write a letter in Sara's name.'
Sophia looked up a bit and called for Sedrick.
"Sedrick, are you nearby?"
"What can I do for you?"
"Could you have your follower follow Chloe and the golem Sara today?"
"Should I whisper information about the people talking to the young ladies?"
"That's right. I plan to have them stay close, but they might wander off, so I want you to keep an eye on them."
"Understood."
Sophia took out 3 golem units from the spatial storage and created golems that looked like 3 gods.
"Maes and Maru will be my attendants. I'll ask Maes to handle the escort. Grazia, could you follow golem Sara as her Lady-in-Waiting? Maria, you're still joining as a maid, right?"
Maria looked a bit troubled and nodded at Sophia's question.
"I'm sorry, but I haven't finished my Lady-in-Waiting training yet. Plus, at my age, calling myself a Lady-in-Waiting feels too much..."
"Being a Lady-in-Waiting is tough, huh? Are you okay, Grazia?"
Grazioso smiled gracefully and slowly bowed her head to Sophia.
"If it's just mimicking the movements of the Grandchester family's Lady-in-Waiting, I can do that."
"That will be enough for now. Well, I think you know, but all the golems should listen to the conversations of the attendees and gather information as much as possible. Since we'll analyze everything with Magi later, let's share what we find."
All the golems, including golem Sara, bowed their heads to Sophia.
"Of course, the same goes for Sedrick and your followers. But, Sedrick, please assign some followers to Uncle Edward as well. Today is the day he goes to the palace."
"Understood. Followers are already assigned, so please don't worry."
"You're as prepared as ever."
"I can't let Magi and the golems outdo me, milady."
"I don't think you're in a competition, though."
"--Absolutely. I really want to get along with the fairies, especially Sedrick. I can't wait to share information."
Grazioso approached Sedrick with a curious look.
"Well, to be honest, I'm a bit uncomfortable with Magi and golems."
"Why is that? We golems are very interested in fairies. You could say it's a level of fondness."
"It's just that I don't like being stared at with such intense eyes. I'm good at gathering information, but I feel uneasy when I'm being analyzed."
"Hmm. So even Sedrick has things he doesn't like. Well, that's fine. Let's just get through today's tea party safely."
"Understood, milady."
Sedrick nodded and gently reached into the air, creating a tear in space to pull out 2 followers.
"You two, go to Lady Chloe and the golem Miss Sara. If there's any problem, share it immediately."
""Yes!""
Then, only one of the two jumped back into the rift in space. It probably moved to Chloe's side.
The other one floated softly behind the golem Sara.
"Make sure to stay hidden while you're out there."
"Of course."
* * *
After finishing the adjustments with the golem and Sedrick, the golem Sara moved to her room with Maria. Sophia confirmed their move and closed the corridor, then opened a path to Sara's room in Maiden's Tower. When she returned to Maiden's Tower with golem Grazioso, Thomashiina was already there waiting.
"Welcome back."
"I need to hurry and take a bath."
"I'll help you. You're going to use the bathroom in your room today, right?"
"The outdoor bath in the morning is tempting, but I'll hold back today."
After finishing her bath with Thomashiina and golem Grazioso in the private bathroom attached to her room, Sara quickly dried her hair with magic.
"It would be convenient if golems could use magic too."
"That would be too overpowered."
"Sir Rihito said the same thing."
"I thought so."
Grazioso expertly styled Sophia's hair at the dresser, while Thomashiina used a heated curling iron to curl the remaining hair and stray strands. This curling iron is a magic tool created by Sara, inspired by Chloe's past habit of tying many ribbons in her hair at night. Although Chloe now prefers straight hair and no longer uses ribbons, Sara is thinking about making the curling iron a product for the Sophia Merchant Guild, but she is currently too busy to focus on that.
Today, since she's with Chloe, she asks Thomashiina to create a more mature look. This involves an advanced technique called 'full makeup that looks like light makeup,' and Thomashiina's skills are excellent. Meanwhile, Grazioso is also doing her makeup. As she will accompany Sophia and the others as a Lady-in-Waiting, she emphasizes her eye makeup for a sharper appearance, and her technique is equally impressive.
Finally, she changes into the prepared dress. As always, in this world, she can't put on a dress by herself without magic, so Thomashiina and Grazioso work together to help Sophia get dressed.
"This is supposed to be a simple dress, but changing is really a hassle."
"You probably think that more because you usually rely on magic, Miss."
"By the way, Thomashiina, you've been in that form and haven't returned to the unit, right?"
"Yes, that's correct."
"How do you change?"
"I can change by myself with the maid's outfit."
"I see."
By the way, Grazioso's outfit is made by Sara using magic, and today she is already dressed in an outfit for going out.
Once they are ready, Sophia returns to the annex of the royal mansion. Since departure time is approaching, Sophia, accompanied by 3 golems and Daniel, "walks" toward the main building. The passing servants bow deeply to the guest, Sophia, and step aside, but they can't help but steal glances with curiosity.
In the entrance hall of the main building, Marquis Grandchester and Edward were about to go out.
"Good morning, Your Excellency Marquis Grandchester, and Your Excellency the Young Marquis."
"Oh, Sophia. Please take care of my daughter and niece today."
"I will do so with great respect."
Then, Marquis Grandchester looked at the 3 golems standing behind Sophia.
"Sophia, I've never seen the servants behind you before. Are they from the Sophia Merchant Guild?"
"Yes, they are relatives of Thomashiina from Maiden's Tower."
With this explanation, Marquis Grandchester understood that these 3 servants were golems.
"Oh... relatives of Thomashiina, huh? No wonder they look good. Since you're walking around with them, they must have great abilities too. I envy the Sophia Merchant Guild."
"I'm honored by your praise."
As Sophia spoke, the golems bowed deeply.
"We are heading to the royal palace now. We cannot follow you, but if you have any trouble, don't hesitate to mention Grandchester's name. Always prioritize the safety of my granddaughters."
"Understood, Your Excellency the Marquis."
Edward, who was standing next to Marquis Grandchester, turned to Sophia with a sly smile.
"Still, Sophia looks beautiful today. She seems to be dressed more modestly than usual, but that reserved vibe might actually attract more attention from men. It's kind of sad for the guys."
"Even Your Excellency the Young Marquis makes jokes like that sometimes, huh?"
"It's not a joke at all."
Edward was teasing that, despite her looks, Sophia's personality was quite disappointing, and both Sophia and Marquis Grandchester understood the true meaning. If it were Sara, it would be the usual banter.
However, the servants in the royal residence misunderstood Edward's comment about Sophia. They thought he meant that Sophia was his mistress, which made them feel sorry for the men who liked her. Since Adam and Elizabeth were not back yet, the servants began to speculate. They wondered if Marquis Grandchester had decided to separate from Elizabeth, who they believed spoiled their son. They also questioned whether Sophia might marry as a second wife.
As various speculations about Sophia circulated, Chloe and the golem Sara also appeared in the entrance hall.
"Good morning, Sophia. You look as beautiful as ever."
"Good morning. Lady Chloe, you seem more mature than usual today."
"Standing next to Sara, emphasizing cuteness or charm would just make me blend in."
"I think people just say I'm cute because I'm still young, Chloe. When I reach Chloe's age, I don't think I'll be called cute anymore."
"Yes, yes, I get it. You'll become a beautiful young lady. You all are such stunning women, it's almost unfair."
"Well, they say you get tired of faces like that in 3 days."
"I don't know who said that, but it's definitely a lie. If it were true, Scott and Blaze would have gotten bored a long time ago."
"Now that you mention it, that's true."
Chloe is a confident girl from the Grandchester family, known for her beauty and charm. Sara, looking at Chloe, thinks she is as cute and beautiful as an idol and believes that Chloe will grow up to be like an actress.
Sara herself is often compared to fairies or angels because of her own beauty, which will only grow as she ages. When Sara is quiet, she looks like a beautiful painting. However, her personality is different from her looks, making her expressions change often, which adds to her charm. The golem version of Sara reflects her true self well, and their conversations feel very natural.
When the bell in the tower of the palace rang to signal the time, Marquis Grandchester and Edward exchanged glances and smirked at each other.
"Father, it's about time we go."
"Yeah, today is going to be quite a commotion."
"I bet some interesting people will come to cozy up to us."
Seeing this, Sophia bowed deeply to the two of them.
"I wish you two for good fortune."
"Haha, I don't feel like we're going to lose this battle."
"Father, my weapon is my face."
"Edward, that's not right. That face belongs to Sophia's product."
"That's true."
The servants nearby listened to the conversation between Marquis Grandchester and Edward. They realized that the rejuvenation was due to the Sophia Merchant Guild. From now on, Sophia would be treated with the utmost hospitality at the Grandchester home. This also meant that Sara, who was likely connected to Sophia, would receive the same treatment as Chloe.
A year ago, the daughter of Arthur, whom Marquis Grandchester brought, was a commoner, even though she had the Grandchester bloodline. Most of the servants working in the capital mansion were lower nobles, and many had mixed feelings about Sara, who was just a commoner.
However, being of the Grandchester bloodline, having the support of the Sophia Merchant Guild, and being set to become a Viscount's daughter as Robert's adopted child, Sara became a dignified presence who would never be treated poorly.
It felt like a lie that she could only have Maria as her personal maid back then. The mansion staff in the capital were reluctant to give her more servants. Since Sara planned to leave the capital soon, she accepted this decision. Meanwhile, other servants were unhappy because they wanted to serve her to connect with the Sophia Merchant Guild.
"Well, I'll pray for your good fortune. It's a battle of women, right?"
"Yes, Grandfather. It's a battle I cannot lose. This time, I will go for a surprise attack."
Chloe held a fan to her mouth and laughed with a hohoho sound.
'Chloe... that makes you sound like a villainess.'
Sophia felt a bit down, but she swallowed her words because she didn't want to dampen Chloe's enthusiasm.
"You're right, we have to go into battle too."
"Yes, I need to be at the center of high society. I'm counting on you, Sophia."
"Understood. Lady Chloe."
And so, the 4 of them, along with several golems, threw themselves into the glamorous battle in the royal capital.
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